St. Geltrude Caterina Comensoli was born in Italy in 1847 and received her First Communion at age 7, experiencing such a heavenly feeling that she henceforth became more contemplative at the thought of Jesus. Her motto, “Jesus, loving You and making others love You” became the programme of her life. At age 15, she entered the Sisters of Charity, where everyone had high hopes for her, but she fell seriously ill and was dismissed from the convent. To earn a living, she became a domestic servant. In 1878, she made her perpetual vow of chastity and maintained her prayer life as a servant, even teaching catechesis to local children. Freed from family responsibilities after her parents died, she desired to start a religious institution devoted to the adoration of the Eucharist. When her bishop visited the Countess Fé-Vitali, her employer, and heard her request, he agreed. In 1880, Geltrude went to visit Pope Leo XIII in Rome with the Countess and obtained the support of the Pope, who invited her to educate young female factory workers as well. In 1882, she formed the Congregation of the Sacramentine Sisters of Bergamo, and two years later took the name Sister Geltrude of the Blessed Sacrament. After overcoming innumerable difficulties, the Institute received canonoical recognition. The nuns’ mission was to promote 24-hour-old Perpetual Adoration of the Eucharist and leave the convent to help the needy. In 1903, St. Geltrude died and was canonized in 2009.
Spiritual Talk – Fr Ho talks about St. Geltrude Caterina Comensoli
